Residents In Some Cooper City Neighborhoods On Alert For Burglars
MIAMI (CBS4) - Detectives in Cooper City are trying to solve a rash of recent home break-ins.
The thieves are striking while people are at work or away from their homes during the morning hours. According to the Broward Sheriff's Office within the last couple of weeks burglars have hit about half a dozen homes in the Flamingo Gardens, Cooper Village, Summertime Isle, Cooper Colony and Timber Lake neighborhoods.
Tina Morgan arrived home from work around 2:10 pm on Tuesday, August 2. As soon as she opened the door she knew something was wrong. Her house was ransacked and there was broken glass all over the floor. She knew she'd been burglarized.
"It was a shock," Morgan told CBS 4's Carey Codd. "It didn't compute at first -- not in this neighborhood."
The thief or thieves stole a laptop and several items of gold jewelry.
"My personal feelings -- was gold because the price of gold is so high," she said. "They probably feel they can get more money for it."
One of the items the thieves stole has tremendous sentimental value for Tina's husband, Larry. It's a gold ring with three diamonds in it that Larry's father, Troy, received when he retired from Owens Corning.
"I haven't felt like that in a long time like someone just stuck a knife in my heart, cause that was something that meant a very lot to me," he said. "Just before my dad died he called me over and said, 'Son I want you to have this and I want you to keep this in the family.'"
The Morgan's hope the thieves have a conscience and turn it in or it shows up at a pawn shop.
Detectives say the thieves strike between 8 am and noon -- when most people are at work or running errands.
The Morgan's feels safe in Cooper City but realize crime knows no boundaries.
"I just think people need to be a lot more aware now," Tina said. "It was an eye opener. People get a little complacent."
Investigators don't have much a description of the thieves. If you have any information that can help detectives solve these crimes call Crimestoppers at 954 493 TIPS.
